Why Cheney went to Saudi

Kevin Drum spotted this gem in today's Washington Post:

Saudi Arabia is so concerned about the damage that the conflict in Iraq is doing across the region that it basically summoned Vice President Cheney for talks over the weekend, according to U.S. officials and foreign diplomats. The visit was originally portrayed as U.S. outreach to its oil-rich Arab ally.

So, this wasn't some great plan to line up the Arab countries to help us, as it had been portrayed by the White House. Instead, Cheney was called to the carpet to be scolded by the Saudis... and, he dutifully went.

Meanwhile, Iraq continues to crash and burn, and Bush continues to say, "stay the course."